A few random pictures from the last month

"HELP, the babies are getting into my room!!!  They're going to get my toys!!!"

Babies like watching out the window as kiddos play in the front yard.

I love this happy face!

Shopping with the babies!  We still get lots of comments and feel like a traveling circus!

Kate has this new "CHEESE" face - it's really funny.  Sometimes, it's really cute.  Other times, we get a funny picture of it, like this one.

Kate and Liam love watching Jacob and Claire play Wii.

"Yes, I am wearing my Dump the Plump shirt while eating a super yummy ice cream sundae."

The Wild in Her Eyes

Dani took this picture today.  You can see the wild in her eyes...

and all over her face and hands.

Kate has started doing a 'cheesy grin' face. If you look at her and smile, she'll give you this face.

But she can be pretty sweet, too.

Liam's First Steps

Liam has started walking around!  He used to lunge 3-4 steps, but now he can go across the room.  He's not quite as natural at it as Kate, but he LOVES it, too!

Kate's first steps!

For the past 2 weeks, Kate has been somewhat obsessed with walking.  During church, when we're in the hallway, she doesn't want to be held and she doesn't want to crawl, she wants to hold a hand and walk around.  She's been able to take a couple steps and lunge at things and has gotten pretty brave about it.

Dani was sitting at the computer, and she noticed Kate walk behind her - without any help!  She picked up her phone and recorded this exciting moment.

I love the look on her face near the end of the video - Kate was pretty happy with herself.

Within a couple days, walking has become her preferred mode of transportation - and she's very entertained by it!

First Day of First Grade!

Jacob and Claire had their first day of school this week!  They have been VERY excited.

They are in a brand new school.  The school is beautiful.  The library even has a slide down from the 2nd floor and a little treehouse above it.

We requested that they be in the same class and, if possible, have a male teacher, thinking that maybe a male would connect well with Jacob.  It turns out that they are in different classes, and Jacob has a female teacher and Claire has a male teacher.  However, in the short time they've been in their classes, I  think they will both be a good fit for our kids.

Jacob and Claire will be meeting lots of new kids this year - over half of their classmates from their Kindergarden class are in the other 1st grade class.  They have reported that they love having 2 recesses.

Since the school bus comes at 7:20, we've adjusted our schedule so that the kids go to bed a little earlier and everyone gets up earlier.  Dani has started running every day, and I've been able to have more morning time with the kids during breakfast.

Labor Day in Portland

On Labor Day, we decided to take advantage of a full weekday off to go to Portland!  Our first stop was Pine State Biscuits, where we were definitely like fish out of water, hanging out with the single 20-30 year olds in line.

The delicious sandwich is called the Reggie... a delicious biscuit, fried chicken, sausage gravy, cheese, bacon (the Reggie Deluxe adds an egg... yum).

It was a beautiful day for a bike ride!

Keep Portland Weird... Here's a prime example of weird Portland!  an Elvis display in a window front in the middle of a random street block!  They ask for a quarter and it's supposed to do something - it didn't.  Still worth the quarter!